4 Answers
4

The simplest and cheapest way to get to Khao San Road from Suvarnabhumi Airport is to take the Airport Rail Link (ARL) City Line train to Makkasan Station (20 minutes, 35 baht) and then a #556 bus at the bus stop immediately in front of the doors to the station (35 baht). Don't take an Airport Express train - you'll pay a lot extra to save 5 minutes. (As of end of 2010, the #556 no longer runs from the Airport Transportation Centre. This is also the bus you should take in order to get a safe GOVERNMENT LICENCED bus from Southern Bus Terminal to destinations like Samui or Phuket.)

The answer to your question will depend on which Bangkok airport you are referring to, as there are two of them.

The primary airport is Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK), which is often referred to as "Bangkok International Airport", and handles all International flights.

The second airport, Don Mueang International Airport (DMK), is the old Bangkok International airport, and although it was shutdown for commercial flights several years ago when Suvarnabhumi opened, it has since been reopened and a number of domestic airlines fly from it. Over the next few months many more domestic airlines will relocate from Suvarnabhumi to Don Mueang, such make sure you are aware where you are flying to/from.

Most likely you are referring to Suvarnabhumi, so this answer is based on that.

There are a number of options for getting from Suvarnabhumi to Khao San Road. The best option really depends on the time of day you arrive.

If you arrive any time of the day other than peak period, the best option is normally to just take a taxi. Including road tolls, the cost will be around 400 Baht (~$13) through the day, or around 500 Bhat at night, and it will be the fastest option. All taxis are legally required to use a meter - and make sure that they do as it will be the cheapest option. In general taxis from the airport will use a meter without you asking, but taxis TO the airport will often try and set a fixed price - if they refuse to use the meter just get another taxi.

If you arrive during peak, or if you're alone and really want to save every last dollar, then there are various other options including buses and train that may be faster than sitting in traffic, but personally I would avoid them and just go with the taxi - especially if you have luggage.

Don Mueang doesn't serve major international flights any more, AFAIK. I think I do remember seeing an 'International Departures' terminal but those are for flights to/from neighbouring countries.
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Ankur Banerjee♦Jun 24 '12 at 20:28

Since October Airasia is serving from/to DMK
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greg121Oct 26 '12 at 12:12

To get from Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport into town, you could typically take the Airport Express Link or the standard train lines. Unfortunately, the area where Khao San Road is, is not connected AT ALL by any of their intra-city train lines. So depending on WHEN you arrive, here are your options (I don't remember that exact prices, I looked these up on Wikitravel's excellent entry on Bangkok):

Take the Airport Express (20 minutes) or slower City Line (15-45 baht) to Phaya Thai (90 baht) then take bus 15 to Khao San. This means, however, that you will need to orient yourself and find out where the bus stand is heading towards Khao San and that is NOT going to be easy when you've just landed in Bangkok. If you give up and try to take a tuk-tuk / taxi, there are more than enough of them around to gouge a high fare out of you.

The cheapest option is to take the free shuttle bus from Suvarnabhumi Airport to the Public Bus Interchange. From there, take bus 556 to Democracy Monument. Once you're there, Khao San Road is not that far. (Seriously, don't believe tuk-tuk drivers who tell you it is.)

Another option at the Public Bus Interchange are private van drivers who pick up backpackers going to Khao San Road. The schedule for these is pretty much "when it's full". I don't remember how much I paid (not more than 100 baht, I think, and I don't see any details on Wikitravel for this). Anyway, these take you either to Democracy Monument or straight to Khao San Road, and thanks to the stuffy vans it feels a bit like getting kidnapped, but you can't be arsed waiting for the bus you do tend to at least meet other travellers on these.

If your wallet is deep, you could always get a taxi. How much you get charged will depend on how well you can haggle, so your mileage may vary.

Never, EVER haggle with a taxi in Bangkok. They are legally required to use meters, and doing so will give you the cheapest fare.
–
DocJun 24 '12 at 0:41

4

+1 to Doc. If the first taxi you hail doesn't want to use the meter, wave them on and grab the next one that appears, there are usually plenty.
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jpatokalJun 24 '12 at 4:25

Good luck trying that in practice! Depending on how gullible you look, taxis or tuk-tuks will often try to gouge you ESPECIALLY if you say the destination is Khao San (also depends on if it's early in the morning / late at night). And I've had occasions where in Bangkok drivers have tried to take me the scenic way around to Khao San when running on meters. Thankfully, as far as haggling goes, my Indian genes helped and often they just gave up arguing. ("Man, he's Indian, he knows haggling, I give up" et al)
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Ankur Banerjee♦Jun 24 '12 at 20:26

Taxis from the airport are not a problem - just make sure you're at the official taxi rank where there are staff that will make sure that people are following the rules, as well as making sure the taxi driver knows where you are going.
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DocJun 24 '12 at 20:54

1

Once when getting from Khao San Road to a bus station in a distant part of Bangkok, a couple of drivers refused to go on the meter… I got the impression that was mostly due to the length of the trip (~1 hour & really cheap when I did get one). But I agree with Doc and jpatokal that normally it shouldn't be a problem at all (even if you look western or whatever)—just be determined about it and get out if they won't agree to putting the meter on.
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JonikJun 25 '12 at 19:11

There is lot of way to travel from BKK airport.
Limo: located just outside arrival level door 5 > highly priced about 800-1200 Baht depending on which car do you use.
Taxi: Easy one: from arrival go to ground level (just downstairs) door 4 or 7 > taxis desk give you a ticket. The price is meter price + 50 Baht surcharge + Toll fee is you use Expressway (not needed at night).
Minivan and bus: Cheapest option. first you have to go the transportation center > take the shuttle bus on arrival level door 5 (avoid limo touts) or departure 4 floor door 5. you should see a blue sign Shuttle Bus. Bus runs every 20 minutes 24h.